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Real members of MyMigraineTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Why does your body go into dehydration during a migraine and I had a fever and chills

A MyMigraineTeam Member asked a question 💭
Arcadia, FL
August 4
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A MyMigraineTeam Member

I had 3 migraines back to back
( actually over a 2-day period.) I didn’t vomit much but just felt really bad. So for 2 days I drank very little and I didn’t eat much either. About two days after the migraines I got really sick and shaky and felt bad all over. I ended up in the ER. Apparently, I got extremely dehydrated which caused my heart to go into a-fib and just very odd rhythms. I had to stay in the hospital for two days for my heart to get back to normal. What I learned from that though was that wasn’t really the migraines that did all that, it was the dehydration that affected my heart, and I have a history of a-fib and that’s one of the things that happened with it. I know that from now on when I’m sick whether I like it or not, I’m going to drink plenty of water.

August 18
MyMigraineTeam

Great question — and it makes sense why a migraine attack can leave you feeling completely wrung out, including dehydrated. During a migraine, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms, which means your body is losing fluids faster than you can replace them. On top of that, the pain itself can make it really hard to drink Show Full Answer

Great question — and it makes sense why a migraine attack can leave you feeling completely wrung out, including dehydrated. During a migraine, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms, which means your body is losing fluids faster than you can replace them. On top of that, the pain itself can make it really hard to drink water normally.

Here are some everyday situations that can also contribute to dehydration during or around a migraine:

- Vomiting from nausea during the attack
- Not being able to keep fluids down
- Sweating from pain or stress on the body
- Reduced ability or desire to drink water while in pain As for the fever and chills — migraines themselves don't directly cause a fever. However, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that helps regulate body temperature) can behave differently during a migraine attack, which may explain why some people feel chills or temperature changes.

If the fever was real and not just a perception of warmth, it's worth paying attention to. Fever alongside a migraine can sometimes point to something else going on in the body, like an infection, that may have also triggered the attack.

It's a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider if:

- Fever accompanies your migraines regularly
- The headache came on suddenly and severely
- You have other unusual symptoms alongside the fever and chills

If a severe headache and fever occur together, seeking prompt medical care is the safest move.

August 4

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